Olivia Meets Olivia

by Ellie O'Ryan (Adaptation), Art Mawhinney (Illustrations), Shane L. Johnson (Illustrator)

There's a new girl in Olivia's class and her name is . . . Olivia! Soon, everyone in the school is mixing up the two Olivias. What will Olivia do? Find out in this hilarious and sweet story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School

24 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Ellie O’Ryan loves chocolate almost as much as she loves writing books for kids. She is the author of more than 300 books for children and has a secret chocolate stash hidden in her office for late-night writing sessions. Ellie lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids, three cats, and one dog.

Reviews

[Kꌗꓘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious! I loved how Olivia struggled with her feelings about sharing her name with another girl. As a child, I remember thinking that people who shared a name, looked alike but the first time I met someone with the name "Larry" who didn't look like the Larry I knew, I was sooo confused, so I loved this. This book did a great job showing the authenticity of her struggle to understand how dynamics of sharing a name work especially being in the same space consistently. At one point, Oliva even changes her name because she doesn't want to share one anymore LOL. Eventually, she does change it back and she resolves to be nice to the other Olivia. And they soon realize the only thing they have in common is their name.
The only hang-up I had was the ending. I didn't really like the last page, it kind of randomly added and may have done better in another part of the book.

[Crystal Gill-Meighan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It brings out so much excitement when you have children with the same name. I read this to my daughter when a kid in her class had the same name as her. She was shocked with excitement. I added stories of people I have met with my same name. It's a fun book and excites children when they run into someone with the same name as them or someone they know.

[Meliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

As typical of books made after kids shows, this one is long-winded and wordy. Disjointed events occur after a new Olivia joins Olivia’s class. The conflict seems to end before the book does, and it’s missing the cute ridiculousness found in the original Olivia stories.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mi hija le encanta este personaje y disfruto leerle las aventuras de Olivia la cerdita.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia the pig is overwhelmed when the new girl at school is also named Olivia. At first she doesn't like it and gets mad and aggrevated. Then she attempts to change her name but that doesn't work either. But she eventually learns that it's okay that someone else can have the same name. In my opinion the 'feeling' of the book was there but it lost my 3 year old granddaughter at times you could tell she was bored and I almost put the book down but we did finish it. Would be a good book to read to a child that has to 'share' a name with someone in their class-daycare.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly I am a purist for Falconer's Olivia rather than the TV show Olivia...and this is no exception. When a new girl joins the class and her name is Olivia, trouble brews and problem-solving skills come into play.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Upset by the arrival of a new student who has the same first name, Olivia changes her own name to Pam but is unable to adjust, in a lighthearted tale that imparts themes of sharing and friendship." (Dallas Public Library Summary)

Audience: K-2